SERVICES

Bike fitting, soft tissue therapy & exercise physiology

Bike fitting

Winning Position offers a comprehensive bike fitting service. We fit cyclists to road, triathlon/time trial and mountain bikes. Depending on the service requested, the fit process will include consideration of the cyclist’s musculoskeletal function, their foot/pedal interface, the bicycle touch points (saddle, handlebars and pedals) and position. A bicycle fit typically takes 3 to 3.5 hours to complete. In addition a 45 minute follow-up session (within a month of the initial session) is included should additional tweaks be required. For more information about the fitting process see our article What’s In a Bike Fit.

Bike fitting is not just a side line here at Winning Position but rather it is central to what we do. Because of this we have the knowledge and equipment required to help you find your very own winning position. Expand the sections below to learn more about just some of the equipment we use.

A dynamic fit bike is not absolutely necessary to get a good fit – it is just very, very helpful. The purpose of this piece of equipment is to enable the fitter to change the position of the saddle and handlebars relative to the bottom bracket whilst the cyclist keeps pedalling. This has a number of advantages:

a dynamic fit bike saves time – the client doesn’t need to stop, get off and wait around whilst the saddle is moved or the stem is swapped out;

a dynamic fit bike removes limitations

because changes are so easy to make, the fitter is not tempted to quietly limit the positions tested or make a guess about what the ideal reach is. To change the reach on a traditional bike by 5 millimetres the appropriate combination of stem (length and angle) and spacers needs to be calculated and then the changes made (assuming its even possible with the length of steerer and gear/brake cables available). To make the same change on a fit bike takes just a turn of the wheel;

the fit bike’s adjustable cranks mean that it’s easy to test different crank lengths – something that is not practical when using a bike on a trainer;

the fit is not constrained by the client’s existing bike. It should be the fit driving the bike set up, not the bike driving the fit;

a dynamic fit bike results in precise measurements – taking precise, repeatable measurements on a bicycle is not an easy thing to do yet accurately recording the fit is essential to its implementation. The fit bike provides precise X Y coordinates that, with some maths, give millimetre perfect fit measurements.

Measuring bikes is hard. It is very difficult to get accurate, repeatable measures and thus replicate the fit you just paid money for. At Winning Position we use the Bike Size by BiciSupport measuring jig to ensure that your bike reflects your winning position. The jig is designed to take the guess work out of setting saddle height and set back, handlebar reach and handlebar drop.

Saddles. How many do you have to try to find The One? Well the Bikefit SwitchIt makes the process a whole lot easier.

At Winning Position we believe that you don’t have to put up with saddle discomfort. If you are suffering pain then you are in the wrong position, using the wrong saddle or both in the wrong position and using the wrong saddle.

The traditional method of finding the right saddle is to buy one that ‘looks’ right and try it for a while. This is very hit and miss and can be a painful and expensive exercise.

The SwitchIt allows bike saddles to be swapped in seconds which, combined with the adjustability of a dynamic fit bike, allows a rider to try multiple saddles in just minutes. Once the field has been narrowed down it’s possible to switch back and forth between the contenders to determine which is The One.

A dynamic fit bike is not absolutely necessary to get a good fit – it is just very, very helpful. The purpose of this piece of equipment is to enable the fitter to change the position of the saddle and handlebars relative to the bottom bracket whilst the cyclist keeps pedalling. This has a number of advantages:

a dynamic fit bike saves time – the client doesn’t need to stop, get off and wait around whilst the saddle is moved or the stem is swapped out;

a dynamic fit bike removes limitations

because changes are so easy to make, the fitter is not tempted to quietly limit the positions tested or make a guess about what the ideal reach is. To change the reach on a traditional bike by 5 millimetres the appropriate combination of stem (length and angle) and spacers needs to be calculated and then the changes made (assuming its even possible with the length of steerer and gear/brake cables available). To make the same change on a fit bike takes just a turn of the wheel;

the fit bike’s adjustable cranks mean that it’s easy to test different crank lengths – something that is not practical when using a bike on a trainer;

the fit is not constrained by the client’s existing bike. It should be the fit driving the bike set up, not the bike driving the fit;

a dynamic fit bike results in precise measurements – taking precise, repeatable measurements on a bicycle is not an easy thing to do yet accurately recording the fit is essential to its implementation. The fit bike provides precise X Y coordinates that, with some maths, give millimetre perfect fit measurements.

Measuring bikes is hard. It is very difficult to get accurate, repeatable measures and thus replicate the fit you just paid money for. At Winning Position we use the Bike Size by BiciSupport measuring jig to ensure that your bike reflects your winning position. The jig is designed to take the guess work out of setting saddle height and set back, handlebar reach and handlebar drop.

Saddles. How many do you have to try to find The One? Well the Bikefit SwitchIt makes the process a whole lot easier.

At Winning Position we believe that you don’t have to put up with saddle discomfort. If you are suffering pain then you are in the wrong position, using the wrong saddle or both in the wrong position and using the wrong saddle.

The traditional method of finding the right saddle is to buy one that ‘looks’ right and try it for a while. This is very hit and miss and can be a painful and expensive exercise.

The SwitchIt allows bike saddles to be swapped in seconds which, combined with the adjustability of a dynamic fit bike, allows a rider to try multiple saddles in just minutes. Once the field has been narrowed down it’s possible to switch back and forth between the contenders to determine which is The One.

Our bike fits come in three flavours as set out below.

Foot/Pedal Interface Analysis

$8000

Assessment of pedalling mechanics

Cleat alignment

Correction of knee alignment

Up to 2 cleat wedges

This option suits those who have had a fit in the last 12 months and are changing their shoes or pedals.

Bike fit & injury management

Price includes fitting for one bike (road, tri/TT, MTB).Additional hardware and equipment not included.

Soft tissue therapy

Often various activities of our day e.g. desk work, driving and sleeping can overload the body on one side, resulting in a build up of tissue on that side to make it stronger. On the other hand, if you don’t use parts of your body, they can become hypotonic and inactive – setting up soft tissue imbalances that can then play out on the bike.

Soft tissue imbalances coupled with the repetitive motion of constant training can cause the body to lay down restrictive adhesive tissue that binds soft tissue structures such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia and nerves. Until these adhesions and hypertonic area are addressed, fluid pedalling technique and power production can be difficult to sustain and injuries and pain can begin to emerge.

A soft tissue treatment will involve an assessment of an individual’s posture, biomechanics, range of movement and neural structures to ascertain the most appropriate type of manual therapy techniques for your injury or painful area. This may include trigger point therapy, myofascial therapy and broad hand techniques.

Soft tissue therapy is not just for injuries: often cyclists can benefit from a recovery type massage post a big race, a challenging event or a hard training session. Even just sitting in the office all day can mean a soft tissue session is needed to reach your potential.

The benefits of a soft tissue therapy session to decrease pain, muscle tension and increase range of motion is certainly not limited to cyclists. Vicki has over 20 years of experience treating the full range of conditions and clients. As a movement therapist, soft tissue therapist and sports coach, Vicki has a passion for her clients to feel better, move better and perform better, whether this involves performing at an elite level in sport or meeting the challenge of moving freely and without pain in their daily activities.

Vicki believes that soft tissue therapy, Pilates and movement science go hand in hand. When there are soft tissue imbalances in the body, it is impossible to work to your full potential, and the combination of stability and strength enhancement along with soft tissue massage help remedy these limitations.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Exercise physiology

Exercise Physiologists are university qualified allied health professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies to design, deliver and evaluate safe and effective exercise interventions for people with acute, sub-acute or chronic medical conditions, injuries or disabilities. Pathology domains covered by the services of AEPs include cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, musculoskeletal, cancers, kidney, respiratory / pulmonary and mental health, and any other conditions for which there is evidence that exercise can improve the client’s clinical status.

She has wide range of knowledge about the bio-mechanics and physiological aspects of human movement and will assess, analyse and help you to understand movement problems both on and off the bike that have contributed to your current injury or to prevent future injury or pain.

As an adjunct to a bike fit, an individualised exercise program can be prescribed to either address mobility, stability or strength deficits that are impacting your cycling or any other activities of daily life. This will consist of a series of stretches, movement drills or strength exercises that can be conducted at home or as part of your regular gym visits.